Animal-hopple.



H. J. MEEKS (55 R. S. HARRIS. ANIMAL HOPPLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1, 1907 RENEWED NOV. 12, 1908.

914,059. Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

THE NORRIS Psrs'as co. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNTE STATS ATENT @FFTQE HEBER J. MEEKS, OF ORDERVILLE, AND ROY S.HARRIS, OF LEEDS, UTAH.

ANIMAL-HOPPLE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed Augustl, 1907, Serial No. 386,543. Renewed November12, 1908. Serial No. d62,38.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HEBER J. MEEKs and ROY S. HARRIS, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Orderville and Leeds, in the counties of Kaneand Washington and State of Utah, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Animal-Hopples, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to improvements in animal hopples, and has for itsobject, the provision of a simple and durable construction of hopplewhich will be useful for a va riety of purposes, such as for a halter,as a tie for holding animals while branding, and which will perform allthe functions of a hopple in a thoroughly efficient and practicalmanner.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a hopple of lightand compact form, which will not injure the animal to which it isapplied, which may be easily manipulated, and which will securely tiethe animal.

With the above objects in view, our invention consists of a hopple madeof one continuous strap, in providing an adjustable connection for theends of the strap, and in mounting keepers on the strap which form loopsat each end of the hopple.

The invention further consists of a hopple embodying certain other novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts, substantially asherein disclosed.

Figure 1, is a perspective view of our improved hopple as in positionupon a horses tore legs. Fig. 2, is a plan or edge view of the completehopple, and Fig. 3, is a detail per spective view of one of the keepersused upon the hopple.

In the accompanying drawings: The numeral 1, designates the strap whichforms the body of the hopple, upon one end of which is secured thebuckle 2, the other end of the strap having openings therein throughwhich the tongue of the buckle is adapted to pass.

We use a peculiar form of keeper or harness loop in connection with thehopple, which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. This keeper comprises arectangular loop 3, and a parallel connecting bar 4 extends midwayacross the loop and is offset from the loop by the angular end portions5. Two of these keepers are used upon the hopple, one of them beingmounted upon the strap near the buckle end thereof, the end of the strapafter passing through the buckle, being brought back and riveted overthe connecting or securing bar of the keeper at 6.- The other keeper islocated upon the same or main portion or" the strap at a short distancefrom the first mentioned keeper (about five inches in ordinary use), andis held upon the strap by a short securing strap or plate 7, which isriveted over the connecting bar of the keeper as before described. Thekeepers are thus looped upon the main portion of the strap, and thestrap is doubled back through the keeper farthest from the buckle at 8,there by providing the loop 9, thence continued parallel to or restingupon the main portion of the strap at 10, through one side of the firstkeeper and to the buckle to -lorm the loop 11, and after passing throughthe buckle, the free end of the strap is confined in the opposite sideof the first keeper, or if the strap be long enough, the free end isconfined in the corresponding side 01 the second keeper.

By means of the buckle connection, the size of the hopple loops may beadjusted at will, and the hopple may be used as a halter to be put aboutthe animals neck, by withdrawing the i ree end of the strap from thekeepers and using it independent of the keepers. In tying animals forbranding or for other purposes, the free end of the strap may bewithdrawn from the keepers and'the strap passed around the animals legsas many times as required.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, itwill be apparent that we have provided a useful and desirable animalhopple and one which accomplishes all the objects herein set forth.

We claim:

An animal hopple comprising a continuous strap doubled upon itself toform end loops, a buckle securing the ends of the strap, keepers formaintaining the loops on the strap, said keepers each comprising arectangular loop having a securing bar oilset from the central portionof the loop, the end of the strap being passed through the buckle forsecuring the same in place, thence brought back over the securing bar ofone of the keepers to secure such keeper in place, and a. short securingstrap passed over the securing bar of the other keeper and fastened tothe main portion of the strap for securing said keeper in'position, thesides of the doubled strap being passed through the loop on each side ofthe securing bar.

Witnessesi J. A. CREQELIUs, MARY E. OREoELIUs.

In testimony whereof We afliX our signa-

